All-new Skoda Superb luxury saloon launched

Skoda India has just launched the all-new Superb luxury saloon. A major absentee at the 2016 Auto Expo, the new Superb is based on the MQB platform, which it shares with the upcoming Volkswagen Passat. The Skoda saloon is CKD assembled at the Czech automaker’s Aurangabad factory, and prices start from 22.68 lakh rupees, ex-showroom Mumbai. For the first time in India, the Superb is available with a top-of-the-line Laurin & Klement (L&K) variant. Essentially, the Superb L&K is a car that offers Mercedes S-Class-like space and comfort at one fourth of the price.

Skoda Superb Price List

Style Petrol MT: 22.68 lakh rupees

Style Petrol AT: 23.92 lakh rupees

Style Diesel AT: 26.40 lakh rupees

L&K Petrol AT: 26.89 lakh rupees

L&K Diesel AT: 29.37 lakh rupees

The Superb’s engine and transmission line up remains unchanged, albeit with more power and torque. Fuel efficiency is better too. The 2 liter TDI turbo diesel motor will be the car’s staple, given the fact that diesels are big in the luxury segments. This engine, which is now MQB platform compliant, makes 175 Bhp-350 Nm, which is a 35 Bhp-30 Nm jump over the older state of tune. The 6 speed, twin clutch DSG automatic gearbox (18.19 Kmpl mileage vs 17.2 Kmpl) is standard.

The petrol engine is the 1.8 liter TSI motor, in 177 Bhp-320 Nm (manual) and 177 Bhp-250 Nm (automatic) states of tune. Power has gone up by 19 Bhp on this motor. The petrol engine is available with 2 gearbox options, a 6 speed manual (14.12 Kmpl vs 13.7 Kmpl) at the entry-level and a 7 speed twin clutch DSG automatic (14.67 Kmpl vs 13.1 Kmpl) transmission for higher variants. The Superb gets disc brakes on all four alloy wheels, and has ground clearances of 164 mm (up by 5 mm) and 149 mm (up by 4 mm), for the petrol and diesel variants respectively.

Dimensionally, the Superb is longer (4,861 mm vs 4,833 mm), wider (1,864 mm vs 1,817 mm) and taller (1,482 mm vs 1,481 mm), and with an 80 mm longer wheelbase (2,841 mm vs 2,761 mm), than the outgoing car. The new car has a larger boot too, measuring 620 liters compared to its predecessor’s 565 liters. The new car is lighter too (1,494 Kgs vs 1,586 Kgs) for the petrol MT, (1,540 Kgs vs 1,598 Kgs) for the petrol AT, and (1,565 Kgs vs 1,644 Kgs) for the diesel AT, which explains the better fuel efficiency despite the engines making more power than before. 

In terms of features, the Superb offers 3 zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, mood lighting in 3 shades, front and rear parking sensors, a reverse camera, Adaptive Bi-xenon headlamps, LED DRLs, umbrella holders in the doors, a 6.5 inch touchscreen infotainment system with SmartLink that supports Android and iOS interfaces, leather seating in two trim options, 12 speaker-610 watt music system, 12 way electrically adjustable front seats, 8 airbags, ABS+EBD, traction control, ESP and a driver fatigue detection system.